EWING, N.J. — The New Jersey City University men's basketball team played to the absolute final minutes of the game on Saturday afternoon, Jan. 21, on the road against The College of New Jersey in New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) play. The Gothic Knights led by three at the half and trailed by just one with barely more than three minutes to go in regulation, however the Lions finished the game on an 11-3 run to come away with the nine-point, 71-62 victory.

Jersey City (8-10, 3-8 NJAC) was led by senior co-captain forward Kayton Darley (North Bergen, N.J./North Bergen), who poured in a team-high and career-best 23 points on a strong day shooting — he was 8-of-14 from the floor, including 3-of-5 from deep — before he fouled out with just 27 seconds remaining. TCNJ (7-11, 6-5 NJAC) led the Gothic Knights by four at 21-17 with 5:51 to go in the first, but NJCU closed out the remainder of the half on a 13-6 run, including 10 points form Darley alone, to take a 30-27 lead into the break.

The majority of the second half saw the two teams trade leads back and forth. Eventually, the Lions got out to a six-point, 40-34 lead, but NJCU answered with a 7-2 run to cut it back to one at 42-41 with 11:55 to go — four different players scored during that stretch for Jersey City. TCNJ again built up its lead to seven this time at 50-43 with 9:43 to go, but the Gothic Knights answered back once more.

NJCU flew out to a 9-0 run to take a two-point, 52-50 lead barely a minute later. Darley started it off with a three-point play, followed by free throws from junior forward Avante Gilbert (Paterson, N.J./International) and a lay-in from senior guard Keshon Smith (Queens, N.Y./Martin Van Buren). Junior center Michael Clement (Sicklerville, NJ/Winslow Township) closed it out with a pair of free throws at 8:39. Then, with NJCU leading 54-52 at 7:22, the Lions scored five quick points to take a 57-54 lead with 5:51 to go. The Green and Gold to a quick one-point, 58-57 lead with 4:15 remaining on a jumper from senior co-captain guard Jason Battle (Jersey City, N.J./Roselle Catholic), but that was NJCU's final lead of the day. Darley did split a pair of free throws to make it a one-point, 60-59 game with 3:19 to go. However, as mentioned at the top, TCNJ closed it out from there on an 11-3 run.

Up Next:
After a pair of road games, the Gothic Knights finally return to the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (JMAC) on Wednesday evening, Jan. 25, to face William Paterson University. Tip-off on Coach Charlie Brown Court is scheduled for 8:00 p.m., following the completion of the women's game against the Pioneers.